Caught re-issuing tickets, BMTC conductor loses court battle & job | Bengaluru News

Bengaluru: A BMTC bus conductor’s attempt to evade disciplinary action for ticket cheating has failed, with the high court upholding the transport corporation’s decision to dismiss him from service.The case dates back to Dec 29, 2004, when BMTC checking staff intercepted a bus and uncovered multiple irregularities by the conductor, Narayanappa. Investigators found that he had collected Rs 2 from a passenger by reissuing a Rs 6 ticket that had already been sold at Ejipura. He had also reissued Rs 4 tickets—previously sold—to four passengers travelling from Town Hall to Majestic (Kempegowda bus stand).

Further checks revealed that three other passengers travelling on the same route were neither issued tickets nor charged any fare.The checking staff submitted a detailed report after recording passenger statements, collecting penalties from ticketless travellers, and confiscating unpunched tickets. While Narayanappa refused to sign statements related to the reissued tickets, he endorsed the penalty receipts issued to the ticketless passengers. The findings ultimately led to disciplinary action. An inquiry was subsequently conducted and, on May 31, 2006, Narayanappa was punished with a cut in two increments. He challenged the penalty before the Industrial Tribunal in Bengaluru, which upheld the finding that the misconduct was proved. Narayanappa then moved the high court, following which the matter was remanded for fresh consideration.In 2014, the tribunal quashed the punishment order, prompting BMTC to approach the high court. Allowing the corporation’s plea, Justice Jyoti M observed that the tribunal had no jurisdiction to interfere with or dilute the penalty for a proven charge of pilferage. The court held that the gravity of the misconduct warranted termination from service.“The Tribunal could not mitigate the penalty for the established misconduct of pilferage by exercising its statutory discretion. The exercise of discretionary power by the Tribunal in condoning a proven case of pilferage is irrational and perverse. Therefore, I would not hesitate to set aside the award,” the judge added while restoring the penalty of a cut in two increments imposed upon Narayanappa. BoxKSRTC cuts premier bus fares by 5–15%The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) reduced fares for its premier bus services by 5 to 15% on select long-distance inter-state and intra-state routes from Monday.These discounts are being offered during the off-season and are expected to continue until March. “After March, the original pre-discount fares will be applicable,” said a KSRTC official. The discounted pricing will be extended to nearly 700 premium services.The fare revision covers Rajahamsa, non-AC sleeper, Airavat, Airavat Club Class, AC sleeper, and multi-axle AC sleeper services. Key routes eligible for reduced fares include Bengaluru to Mangaluru, Udupi, Manipal, Kundapura, Davanagere, Shivamogga, Chennai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Shirdi, Mumbai, and other destinations.Following the revision, the Bengaluru–Mumbai AC sleeper fare was reduced from Rs 2,500 to Rs 2,000. Similarly, the Bengaluru–Manipal AC sleeper service (Ambari Utsav) fare was reduced from Rs 1,620 to Rs 1,450.